Coffin



(No Model.)

G. B. MARKLE, Jr.

COFFIN.

Patented Mar. 24, 1885.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

Uniirnn Sterne Parnni'r triers.

GEORGE E. MARKLE, Jlt, OF HAZLEION, PENNSYLVANIA.

COFFIN.

SPECIFICATIQN fern-ling of Letters Patent No. 31%,588, dated March 2%,1885.

Application filed June 6, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. llLIARKLE, J r., of Hazleton, in the county of Lnzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coffins and Casio ets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to the face plate and cap of a coffin or casket lid.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is part of a central longitudinal section of a coffin or casket, showing means for securing the face glass and cap of the lid. Fig. 2 is part of a crosssection of a eoffin on line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a section on line a: a; of Fig. 2, and Fig. l is a partial sectional view showinga modification.

A indicates the body of a coffin, and B the lid. The under side of the lidis provided with cleats O on three sides of the opening D for receiving and holding a face'glass, E. The glass is placed in position in the cleats by sliding it toward the head from the foot, and to prevent it from becoming accidentally displaced in case the coffin should be stood up on end, or be otherwise elevated out of horizontal position, I provide a stop for the glass consisting of a bent wire, F, pivoted at two points, a, near its ends to one of the cleats O in such manner that the central part of the wire shall extend down and rest against the exposed edge I) of the glass. The wire being flexible, if the ends thereof are spread apart, the central part will bend up'between the pivotal points a out of contact with the edge of the glass, so that the latter may be drawn out of the cleats.

To adapt this wire stop to be operated from without the coffin after the lid is secured down so that the coffin may be opened, if desired, without the necessity of removing the lid, I connect a wire or cord, G, to each end of the wire stop and extend these cords to opposite sides of the coffin, where they are attached to slides H, loosely confined in recesses I in the lower edge or surface of the lid. The slides H are confined in the recesses I by staples J. With this construction, by drawing both slides outward in opposite directions at the same time, the wire stop will be elevated above the glass, so that the latter may be pushed par- (No model.)

tially out of the cleats by hand when it is desired to open the coffin temporarily for any purpose.

K indicates the cap or plate for covering the face-glass E. Such a cap is ordinarily secured to the lid by screws, requiring much time for removing and replacing the same. To adapt the cap to be quickly secured in place or removed therefrom, I secure to the under surface of the cap a bent catch, L, having a lip, Z, which is adapted to be set in a recess, m, in the projection M on the lid in the act of placing the cap over the glass. This catch is located near the edge of the cap, which is turned toward the foot, and there may be two or more of such catches, if desired. Near the opposite edge of the cap, on the under side, is secured a pin or bolt, N, which passes down through a perforation, n, in the lid when the cap is pressed down to place. This bolt is provided with a shoulder, a, which is engaged by a springcatch, 0, secured in an upright position to the cleat 0. To the upper or free end of the spring-catch is connected a wire or cord, 0, which is extended to the head end of the coffin, and is attached to a slide, P, arrangeddn the edge of the lid in the manner of the slides above described. By pulling the slide Pontward the catch 0 is drawn out of engagement with the shouldered bolt N so that the cap may be removed.

It is evident that the above-described fastening for the cap may readily be modified without changing the character of the invention. In Fi g. at I have shown a modification in which the cap is provided with a keeper, 1), for a bolt, (1, which latter is locatedin a seat, a", and is provided with a spiral retaining-spring, s.

The wire or cord 0 is attached to the outer end of the bolt q, and is to work in the manner above described.

Various other modifications of the fastening will suggest themselves; but the above is thought sufficient to indicate the scope and intention of my improvement.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a coffinlid, of a removable face-glass, a flexible wire stop for holding the glass in place, which stop is suspended or fulcrumed at two points near its ends, and the wires or cords connected to said ends and to slides located in opposite sidesof coffin, and a Wire or cord connecting the the col-fin, which slides project outside the spring-catch and slide, substantially as herein IO coffin. as and for the purpose specified. shown and described.

2. The combination, with a coffin-lid and a 4 5 cap-for coveringa face-glass, of a shouldered bolt at'the forward end of the cap, a spring Witnesses: catch for engaging the shouldered bolt, a slide N. O. YOST, projecting outward through the head of the R. B. ROBERTS. 

